Hot-air gas heater



July 19, 1949. A. w. BECKER HOT AIR GAS HEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1945 57 num 3935 July 19, 1949. A. w. BECKER 2,476,579

. I HOT AIR GAS HEATER Filed March 24, 1945 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 DCHINIIIIIIIJIII [IL JUDGES IIIEIIDIIIIII [:1 @[IDEHZHII IIHIHIIEIIEII m U U m 59' jzwzfar July 19, 1949. A. w. BECKER HOT AIR GAS HEATER Filed March 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 19, 1949 Aloysius W. BeckensOhicago, J11 ZtSSigllOlwffl,

Dearborn. Stove Company; Chicago, Ill., ascornotation "o'f'lliinois Application Maiclr'iz l, 1945; SerialENo. 584 354];

11- r This invention relates to improvements win heaters and;v itconsists-on the matters heminsaiter described and: more :particularly pointed out: in;

the .appendedclaims.

The 'hGEttEIjWit-Il' whichthe present inventior nis more--especiazlly-concerned: ofevther SCI-OBIHECI feabinet typeand'usuallyfinciudes'anantennas-- ing-and an: inner: heating ;eiementrcasing' witi1* an airfspacetherebetween. i-Thei' i-nner casing has a combustion :chambemin which is located a burner for fuel such'asa gasp Said-casingu'istmadeto provideflues for the inlet. and the cttculatiomcf the-air that isheated by rthes'burmng' fuel; for Y passage through open front uppernpcr-tionsrof both; casingsm-nto the JS'IIaGQ'Tt'OTT-DB heated. "A

heaterofithis-general type iS GiSCIDSEdEiH my Lprior Patent 1,848150' of Mar-chum 1932.

One of the objectsrrofthezpresentrinvention is to-provide a: heater bfithevkindmrentioned; which has a greater airi'he'ating 'iaisxd. circulating 'e'ffici'ency'whilemamtain'ing the"outer casing'or eabinet'in such relatively-cool co-irdition' aswilF eliminate: danger of scorching curtains or 'drap'es; blistering Woodwork and w'a'lls and furnitm'e that may be contiguous the heater.

Another obj ect 'of' the invention is toprovide in a heater ofthis' kind;'an'improvedconstruction' for the-*birdulating air fiues'inwhi'ch the fines cannot be "robb'ed of airby thedema-nd of the burner for airfor' eombus'tion-purposesand wherebya better air circulation is afi'orded-Tor space heating purposes without "sacrificing'effi cient combustion at the burner.

A" further'obj ect of i the invention'is ;to provide a; heater of 1 this kind whichshali be compactin throughthespace.heater shoivniin Fig. has taken 1 on the. line 2-9-2 thereof.

s Fig. 3: is a horizontal sectionalrviewithnoughr the improved space' heaten astakensomthe: iine3+3 of Fig.1.

, Eig 42is a qierspectweiviewe mt-theeilmei' heating;

9' .Claims. (01.126490) "2 element or casing of wheel-improved --heater,-.0n* a scale i-reduced fromithat of E'igs; '1; 27am! 3.

r Fig; 545 a vdetail view in perspectiveofpar-tsiof: the backs ofrthe innerrancticutenieasings respectively, on a scale-enlarged-over-that of- Figs: 1,- 2 and Wand. more-iparticuiarlyiiliustiateso 0ne0rmof spacing connectionsvbetweem saidnbacksr Referring! now invdetaili-torthatembodimentsoi the invention iiiustratedt-imthe drawings; 9| 0 indosates as awholerthe 'cabmet on wuterv-casing a-nd I ii indicatesas a whole the -heating:-eleme'ntor inner casing of the. heater,- itheiiattervcasing rappearing in perspective inEigr 4; -Bothr -ofi said oasings are: madeoofrelativelythin sheetimetal.

The outer casing includes an upright back-wall l2 and upright: side 'wailsr lfl -w; The-lower front "closed-portion *I 4 :(See EEigZ :1 iofs'the icasing "his deeper frcmimnt toi'irear than: theuupper front portion :1 5 ambinthertopendiof said-upper front portion: aser-ies ofi vertically spaced? warm air defiecting'. lowers. s! li 6" are-provided. 1 who lower. front: closedik =portionrincl-udesa an: upright front wall I1 and:awearwardlyextending-top wail I8. :Thetop wallilfi aotsstu deflect wanmcair, issuing; from: the-topenifmitibf-ithe heater alocveiit in :an outward-:1 horizontal: direction; forwardly from the heater as a whole. 3

The-hack and sidewallsit'anduis 'arebea'ded toward their'top endsrtoipmvide avseat iaiforza cover iorftopi 20; -5he iowerr mangins; of .the wa1l 12 'an'difront: closed? rpcr'tion- I tinespectively are cutaway as *at 2 l2 Brandi 2zto =providefor the: inlet: oftainintorthz bnttont endiof'the' outer casing:-.from:the sfitontmidizrearithei'eof;

- The: heating element orrrirmerzoasing i i which is shown; in goerspective cna reduced l'sca-le'in Fig; 41-: has a heighh'depth andHwidthrless 'than the outer casing [0. It includes an upright back wall? 2 2 iand: uprightisidewails flzispaoediinwafidl'j from the iatera'l'zedgesofithefiiack'wlallgl andzsaid' side wail-earespaoedfinwaiidly-tnomitm side walls" 13413701257 the -outer: casing. Iherinner casing alsoincludes mtoptwall -24 seeFig; Minot-shown in? Fig; 4) which: veneagesratethreesiof its :edges with; the hack randzside'wailsmfitheroutenzeasing;

This construction provides an air space 25;:betweenirtho; do a'clo walls-312% and: 'ofi both' casings and an .air rspane flw betweemthetside Walls ii 3. fi 3 and z3 -23rof:1ioth::castngs 21 'mrand'ttl; 1 The top 'wallsflfl and 2 Mcoact'tusproiiifie=aalctosedrairtspace' ii!v at the topend'of tl'iet heatewasa whole.

T Operatively" is ecurect tm imt2spa'ced2rfrom 5the upper portion of :zea clr. sidewall; "23 lOftheiin'lfel' casing are panels 28-28. TheseMpanels'in-iconnectionr with thmzssoe'i'a'tedlzsiderwalmazr rotide channels 2929 that are open at the bottom as at 30 (in Fig. 2) and are open at the upper half of their front portions as indicated at 3! in Fig. 4. As before mentioned, the upper front portion of the inner casing is open while its lower front portion is closed by a front wall portion 32 and a relatively short horizontal top wall portion 33 that forms acontinuation of the wall portion l8 of the outer casing, as best appear-s in Figs. 1 and '4. The wall 32 is provided along its bottom edge with an inwardly extending flange 34 which forms the top for a front air inlet opening 35 bottomed by a deeper flange or bafile 36 that extends inwardly from the bottom end 3'! of the front wall portion 32. Between, but spaced from the back wall 22 and wall portion 31 of the casing H, in a plane between the bailie 36 and bottom edge of the casing as a whole is another baflle 38 which provides bottom air inlet opening 39 and 40 respectively. I

The casin H is supported in part from the casing l by means of substantially U-shaped spacing clips 4|4|. As best appears in Fig. 5, each clip includes acentral part 42, lateral wings 43-43 and connecting portions 44--44. The wings 43-43 are spot welded to the inner face of the back wall I2 of the'outer casing, at opposite sides of an opening 45 therein. The central part 42 of each clip is adapted to engage the outer surface of the back wall 22 of the inner casing and then be secured thereto by a screw 46. The openings 45 in the back wall give access for tools used in applying the screws 46.

Associated with and projecting forwardly from the front margin of each side wall 23 of the inner casing and extending from the wall portion 34 to the top wall 25 is a finishing strip 4'! of a U-shaped cross section. The front web of each strip has a plurality of openings 48 therein, certain of which line up with the front outlet openings 3| of the channels 29 before mentioned.

Rearwardly from the rear edge of the wall portion 33 of the casing I l and separated therefrom by a space 49 is a transverse ledge strip 59 having front and rear flanges. This ledge strip is supported at its ends from the side wall 23-23 of the inner casing l I.

The rear marginal portion of the wall 33 and the ledge strip 59 provide the supports for the front and rear margins of a plurality of side by side, upright open bottom hollow refractory tiles l-5I. The front wall 52 of each tile has heat escape openings 53 therein and the rear wall 54 is provided on its inner face with forward projections 54a to increase the heat absorbing and radiating efliciency of the. tile.. As best appears in Fig. l, the open bottom of the tiles span the space 49.

Spaced rearwardly from the ledge strip 50 is an upright baffle 55 thatis supported at its sides from side walls 2323 of the inner casing, As shown herein the bottom edge of said bafile is disposed substantially in the plane of the flange 34 before mentioned-audits top edge terminates somewhat below'the plane of the top edges of the tiles5l5l. a

The lower portion of the baflle 55 in conjunction with the wallportions 35-34 and the ledge 55 provide a combustion chamber 56 and in the upper portion of this chamber, centrally below and in line with the space.49 before mentioned is located a transversely extending burner 51. In this instance the burner is' one adapted for the use of gas as a fuel.

The upper portion of the baffle 55 and the rear 4 walls of the tiles 5l5l define a flue 58, the bottom end of which communicates with the upper rear portion of the combustion chamber 55. Said combustion chamber is defined at its sides by the side walls 23, at the upper part of its front by the wall 32, at the upper part of its back by the lower part of the baffle 55, at its top by the wall 33 and ledge strip 50, and at its bottom by the baffies 36 and 38, respectively. The upper end of said flue opens into the upper portion of the inner casing l I.

Spaced equal distances between the bafile 55 and the back wall 22 of the inner casing and from each other are intermediate and rear baffies 60 and Bi respectively. The bottom portions of said baffles are upright while their upper portions 56a and Gla are directed upwardly and forwardly in flaring relation, as best appears in Fig. l and are connected to the respective lower portions by curved corner parts of substantial radius.

The bottom end edges of the baffles 55-450 and BI respectively are preferably arranged in a stepped relation and wherein the bottom edge of the baffle 60 is disposed at an elevation a suitable distance above the bottom edge'of the bafile 55 while the bottom edge of the baffle 6| is disposed unequal within certain limits without affecting their function.

It will be noticed from Fig. 1 that the flue 62 opens at its upper end into the upper portion ofthe casing below the baflle part a and that the upper end of the flue 63 increases in cross'sectional area toward its upper front end discharge mouth 63a. By reason of this increase in cross sectional area at said mouth, choking of the flue due to the volumetric expansion of the heated air is avoided. Thus a free open non-choking flue is assured for the upward passage of air therethrough.

The upper portion of the flue 64 opens into the top end of the casing where the top wall 24 and the part Sla of the bailie 5| coact to provide an outlet opening 64a for said portion of the flue at the top front portion of the casing.

By reason of the burner 51 in the combustion chamber 56 and the air heated thereby, a considerable draft action is induced toward the combustion chamber for the air entering the casing from the inlet 40. This draft action tends ,to rob the lower inlet end of especially the flues 63 and 64 of air so that the volume of air entering said flues is materially reduced. To counteract this robbing effect, auxiliary air inlets are provided therefor above said lower inlet ends and whereby secondary air is taken in from the rear of the outer casing and passes to said flues at points above said lower inlet ends. To accomplish this function, the rearmost baflle 6! is provided with a transverse opening 65 (see Fig, 1)

toward its bottom end. Associated with said opening are openings 66 and 61 respectively in the back walls 22 and [2 of the inner and outer casings. Said openings are arranged at different lower elevations as best appears in Fig. 1, in order to give an upward directional effect to the en-' ODEILflSOIltiOf theeasing; filhus sgreateriefficiency is 'obtainedtfroml the fuel consumed-ands a 1 cooler casing. istafiordedtor the heaten'asawhole. The

combustion. .-cha.mbera and! which; dues at; their upper-. endsrdischarge toward-.the openfront-31p:

per; tporticnrnt. theeeasing; the bottom ends. of said fiues constituting -anlair inlet forsaid fines,

an -outer: Pea-sing: 5 including a; back wall that -is spaced: rearwaridlyi :from-athe f back wall' of .the

I inner;v casingsatm provides-an .airqspace therebe;

increasediefiiciencyenables useiofi amnmpact sized :casin even for: a irelativelyadarge ecapacity heater. wInithis respect'it is pointed nutrthat aa-partmf the :air entering the opening it? inithexba-ele wall of 'the o'nter casing: will pass into the airspace 525 which as obvious' ITOIH'Figi 3-rcommimioates attits sides with the: =air spa'cest 25- 12 6: at each sideef the heater and whichzspaces communicate with atmosphere out through spaces fififili' fsee Fig; 3) between the: parts 4=8: and :partsi 91m said outer casing. V

InFig. l' arrows are shown toiindicatathe passage of'the cool air into and throughthe heater andthe outlet of: thecheatedair from the heater as well as the' heatraaiatedvfrom: the'tiles e e 'rAs befcre-pomtedwutthe heater-fie so efficient thati'the outer casing remains substantially cool;

Hencat-he heater ifinishwill not check and the heatersfmay be safelyznsedr in close proximity 'to drapes, I, curtains, woodwork, walls i and other articles.

:While; in" describing :the invention I have re ferredrin': detail. touth forms arrangement and construction 20f the parts involved; the same is to be considered zonly 'in-ifthe illustrative: sense-and the'refom I" do' not 'wish to' be limited thereto exceptzeslimayl be speei-fically pointed out in the with parts in communicationwith said upper and lower: portions respectively; hollow heat-radiating tilemea-ns spanning said space abova'said top wall; "meansdn said casing coactingwith s'afid top: and backwalls in forming air fines in the casing 1 to the-reanbtsaiid "combustion chambera and which fiues at "their upper ends"dis"charge toward the open front upper" portion of. therasing"; 1 the-bottom ends-bf said fines constituting "an air inlet for said-fines; an outer-casingincluding a back wall "that -'is' spaced rearwar'dly from'thbaclewallof the inner 'casingtoprovi'de an 'air space therebetween; and: means" providing an other air inlet for'at-lea'stpne of said flues and which air inlet opens through'the-back walls of said inner and outer casings, at an elevation above said first mentioned air inlet.

2. In a space heater, an inner heating elementcasing having an ,open front upper-v 'portion for the discharge of heated air therefrom and a closedr'zfront lower portion having an aiif-inleif' thereiniand ftop and-backwallsnneans providing a; combustion. chamber in-the casing having a dis' charge space in the plane-bf 'said topw'ali and with parts iinl commu-nication ii ith saidnpper andi lowerf portions respectivelyfihollow heatradiating-tile means spanning said space above said top wall, a burner insaid combustion chamber relatively close' tosaid, space, means in said casing coacting with said -topand back walls in forming air-fines in the rcasingrtor the reaniofisaid tweememctmeans providing another air inlet for alplunalityvoieaidfiues and which aire-inletyopens casingst-"at. an.relevationeaboveasaid first-zmeneasing :havinglanacpen. front, upper --portion. for' the dischargemof nheatedt air therefrom and: a CIDSEdAfIQIlt: lowen-portien havingwanair inlet therein and ;tQp-arnd-'back'=wa11S-,1 means providing a-ucombustiom chamberin the. casing having; a discharge spaceinltheplane ot said top wall and with parts. i in -:communication-'- with said" upper and lower i-portiona rrespectively hollow heatradiating tile means spanning-said spaceabove said top wall albumer in said-reombustion chamher relatinely,..oleseito'saidlspace, means in said casing coacting I with sazidz top and back walls i in tanning-air flees in-thescasingztotheerear otsaid comhustionmchamber and; whichw-fiues: at their upper-lends. discharge toward" the-open front: appen. portion nt-the casing, the -bottom -endsrof said .flues .ncnstituting an. air: inlet .for :saidfines, an. .outer (casingsincluding a-z-back wall thatis spaced rearwardly. irom the 1 back wall of: the inner casing,gtoeprovidee; an. airs space therebetwe.e.n,= saidhsecond mentioned; means and said back wallsoflsaidai-rmer and vouter'casing respec-H may having Pair .cinlet" openings therein for another inlet-entraininto-at least certain of said fines at elevations-above. that of the-first'me-ntionechair inleteionsaidiflues.

1 4..In aspace-heater; .-an:- inner heating element casingmhavingsan iopen. front.- upper portion for the, dischargesofr-heated air therefrom and" a closed fIZQHtwI'OWEI' portion: having an air inlet therein and top and back wallseimeans providing ancomhustionechamber in the casing having a 'dischargempace:int-theiplane :of said top'w'all and,with-pants: in communication with'said upper: andrlowereportionsrespectively; hollow heatradiatingtilelmeanscspanning said" space above saidetop wall, a bur'n'en in-said'combustionichamberrelatively close s tosaici" space; means '"in' said casing coaeting with said top and back" walls" in forming-main"fluesiimthe casing'to' the rear of said -combustionchambee and which flues at the uppenendsndischargetowardthe open'front upper- DQItiOIL-"Ofcthe; casing-who bottom ends" of saidriiues constituting an Jain inlet ion-said fines; anv enter. easing-l. including ca backvwall that *is spaced wrearwandly :fromthe-back wall of the innennasing d130, provide 'anair space therebetween; said second mentionedvmeans" and said back otsaid; inner and outer-casing respectiiielyhhavinghair inletcpen-ings therein for another inlet- ,ofl ain intonsaid" fines at elevations abovejhat ofnthe first-mentioned air'inlet for said fines, said .--last v mentioned: openings in said back walls.andsaidasecondmentioned means being. rarrangeda ate successive "upward elevationswith the opening inr-thebach-wall-nf the outer casing at the lowest elevation.

l5MIn"v aspacenheater; ran inner heating element casing havingwan open 1 front upper portionfor the, discharge -ofheatedeair' therefrom and a closed-front lowen'rportionc havi-ng anair inlet therein".sands top: and: black =-walls respectively;

gram

means providing a combustion chamber in the casing having a discharge space in the plane of said top wall and with parts in communication with said upper and lower portions respectively, hollow heat-radiating tile means spanning said space above said top wall, a burner in said combustion chamber relatively close to said space, partitions in said casing coacting with the back wall thereof in providing a plurality of air fiues in the casing to the rear of the combustion chamber and which fiues at their upper ends discharge toward the open front of said upper portion of the casing, the lower open ends of said flues forming the air inlets therefor and which inlets are disposed at different elevations in said lower portion of the casing, an outer casing including a back wall that is spaced rearwardly 'irom the back wall of the inner casing to provide an air space therebetween, and air inlet providing means in said back walls for said flues, at an elevation above that of the first mentioned air inlet ends of said flues.

6. In a space heater, an inner heating element casing having an open front upper portionfor the discharge of heated air therefrom and a closed front lower portion having an air inlet therein and top and back walls, means providing a combustion chamber in the casing having a discharge space in the plane of said top wall and with parts in communication with said upper and lower portions respectively, hollow heatradiating tile means spanning said space above said top wall, a burner in said combustion chamber relatively close to said space, partitions in said casing having parts to'the rear of the come bustion chamber and having other parts above the combustion chamber and which other parts flare vertically away from each other to provide a discharge mouth for at least one of said flues, said mouth opening toward said front upper portion of the casing and having a cross sectional area greater than that of said one of said flues, the lower end of said fiues providing an air inlet for said fiues.

7. In a space heater, an inner heating element casing having an open front upper portion for the discharge of heated air therefrom and a closed front lower portion having'an air inlet therein'and top and back walls, means providing a combustion chamber in the casing having a discharge space in the plane of said top wall and with parts in communication with said upper and lower portions respectively, hollow heatradiating tile means spanning said space above said top wall, a burner in said combustion chamber relatively close to said space, partitions in said casing having parts to the rear of the combustion chamber and having other parts above the combustion chamber and which other parts flare vertically away from each other to provide a discharge mouth for at least one of said flues, said mouth opening toward said front upper portion of the casing and having a cross sectional area greater than that of said one of said flues, the lower end of said flues providing one air inlet therefor. and means in said back wall of the casing and in one of said partitions'providing another air inlet for said flues at an elevation above the first mentioned one.

8. In a space heater, the combination of an inner casing and an outer casing, both open at their front upper portion and closed at their front lower portions, each casing including side walls and a back wall so that an air space is present between the back walls and the side walls of both casings, means providing a combustion chamber in the inner casing having a discharge space through the top of its lower portion, a burner in said combustion chamber below said space and relatively close thereto, hollow heatradiating tile means in the upper portion of the inner casing spanning said space, means also in said inner casing coacting with the back and side walls thereof in forming air flues to the rear of the combustion chamber and which flues at their upper end discharge toward the open front upper portions of the casing, the bottom end of said fiues constituting an air inlet for said flues; there being openings in the outer casing providing for a secondary inlet of air into at least certain of said flues at an elevation above said bottom inlet ends thereof and for an inlet of air into the air space between the back walls of both casings.

9. In a space heater, an inner heating element casing having sides, a back wall an open front upper portion for the discharge of heated air therefrom and a closed front lower portion including a horizontal wall and a vertical wall, said vertical wall having an air inlet opening therein, a vertical partition in said casing between said horizontal and said back wall and coacting with said sides and said vertical and said horizontal wall and extending above and below the latter to define a combustion chamber, other vertical partitions in said inner casing between said back wall and said first mentioned partition having their upper portions directed toward said open front upper portion and defining flues in said inner casing, the bottom edges of said other vertical partitions being spaced above the edge of the first mentioned partition and at different elevations, one relative to the other, an outer casing having a back wall spaced from the back wall of the inner casing, the outer casing having a closed lower front that includes a horizontal wall forming a continuation of the said horizontal wall of the inner casing and a vertical front wall having an air inlet opening therein, there being air inlet openings in the back walls of the inner and outer casings, and means spaced rearwardly from the horizontal wall of the inner casing to provide a discharge space therebetween, open bottom heat-radiating tilemeans spanning said space and supported on the horizontal wall of the inner casing and said means, a burner within the inner casing below and relatively close to said space, said horizontal wall portions of said inner and outer casings coacting to deflect the radiant heat from said tile horizontally outward from the lower part of the front upper portion of said inner casing.

. ALOYSIUS W. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,456,472 Stein May 22, 1923 1,669,078 Clarke May 8, 1928 1,703,900 Rowley Mar. 5, 1929 1,848,150 Becker Mar. 8, 1932 1,931,903 Payne Oct. 24, 1933 1,937,217 Bartlebaugh Nov. 28, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 502,945 1 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1939 

